The Creation of Phoenica Risingby Caroline Quigley

People often ask me, how did the idea for Phoenica Rising – Keeper of Light, my new teen / young adult book come about? Well, it really came about on the Summer Solstice 2013. These characters just suddenly flowed into my mind and I just couldn’t stop writing.

I am also often asked was it a labour of love? And I have to say “No, it wasn’t”. It all happened organically, and so effortlessly and easily. To the point, that I was able to really immerse myself right into the book and into the magical mystical world of Juna.Often when I write, I first go for long walks out in nature and connect myself with my spiritual, guides, angels and ancestors. As I live in the Burren region, a beautiful countryside with ancient limestone mountains and unique fauna, located in the West of Ireland.

As I walked in the Burren, the whole story of Phoenica Rising – Keeper of Light, just literally unravelled in my mind, as if it had suddenly dropped form my subconscious mind into my conscious mind. I really enjoyed writing it and I even felt a kinship with many of the characters. For a long time, I wanted to write a book that was fun, positive, and inspiring, while being a modern day fantasy adventure story for teens / young adults. There is also a definite Celtic thread running throughout, as Phoenica is initially set in Dublin and in the West of Ireland and then in the magical mystical world of Juna.

I also wanted the reader to identify with Phoenica and go on this wonderful, exciting, enchanting journey into Juna. In Juna, Phoenica the main character really grows and develops her true talents. As she acknowledges her great healing and intuitive powers, Phoenica comes to terms that she is the true light keeper of Juna, and has been sent to help the people of Juna regain their freedom from the energy stealers, known as the “Graydens”, who have taken over Juna City.It is a process of self-discovery for Phoenica, as she finds her true path and gently moves into power, falling in love in the process, while freeing Juna from the Grayden oppression. Along the way Phoenica meets many guides and helpers, Ollen of the Tree Nash, Emie the leader of the Silkies, Sianna her Guardian Angel and Keenan her true love. With love, friendship and support at her side, Phoenica soon realises that all is possible, this gives her the confidence to be all that she can be and she courageously moves forward.

Phoenica Rising – Keeper of Light, also deals with friendships, a sense of belonging, as we see the total transformation of Phoenica from a shy, sensitive, intuitive girl, who loves animals and Mother Nature to this strong and warrior like young Woman, who then becomes the protector and leader of Juna.

Even though Phoenica is for the teen / young adult market, adults could also enjoy Phoenica Rising – Keeper of light. And it is also a trilogy series. It really is a timeless, modern day, magical, mystical, Celtic, fantasy, adventure story.

Phoenica, a shy, sensitive, intuitive girl with a deep love of nature, moves to the West of Ireland and meets Bromia her estranged Grandmother.With Bromia’s help she discovers the mystical City of Juna, located through the ancient Burren Mountains and learns that ‘Graydens’, energy stealers, have now taken over Juna and are stealing all of the natural light.Once in Juna, Phoenica meets Ollen, a proud protector from the Tree Guardians, known as the Nash. Emie, the wild and fearless Silkie leader, Sianna her Guardian Angel and Keenan her true love from Miron, a technological futuristic City.Phoenica must try to unlock the hidden secrets from her past which connect her to Juna and its people, and as the light keeper and warrior overcome the negative Graydens, so harmony can reign once more in Juna.

About the Author

Caroline is an Irish writer, a left hander and a twin (twin sister); she lives in the West of Ireland in the beautiful Burren region with her husband Eoghan and her two cats Parker and Harvey. Caroline is also a natural intuitive, holistic healer, with a strong connection to the Angelic realm, spiritual guides, ancestors and Mother Nature.In the 1990’s, she studied acting and attended the Academy Drama School in London and the Lee Strasberg Studio, she studied film making at film base in the IFC, (Irish film centre) and directed a short film and several small documentaries in Dublin. Caroline ran her own theatre and film company Trapdoor Productions in Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1990’s.After a significant personal healing she moved into the mind body and spirit field and studied spiritual and angel healing, holistic medicine, meditation and flower remedies, setting up as a private therapist, holistic practitioner, intuitive and angel healer, while also conducting workshops, seminars and classes.In 2008 Caroline started writing and wrote An Angel Calling, her first book, a universal meditation and angel story book that was published in 2011, which has sold very well. She has also written two correspondence accredited diploma courses, Angel Healing and Celtic Angels, for the BSY College Group in the UK.Caroline has written a book of adult fictional short stories called Eala's Journey set in the West of Ireland and a young children's picture book called Florie's Angel.Pheonica Rising (keeper of light) is Caroline’s first teen, young adult, fantasy, adventure novel, and is also part of a trilogy series. Phoenica Rising was inspired by the beautiful, magical, Burren landscape.Caroline loves all that is mystical, inspirational, creative and positive, and is also a nature and animal lover.